The National tribune., 1887-02-24

Still the graybacks come marching on; their
banners ny, their arms glcam, the ground seems
TO shake uader their feet the fate of the Con-
federacy, OF The world, may depend upon their
charge.
Thcv arc within 90 rods Of us now, march
inr and unbroiten Suddenly a rider, perhaps
some division commander, dashcs cut before
the second line, formed Of regiments IN col
umn. aud commands, high and loud, clear ana
distinct as a silver horn:
Movement hy batalion-Deploy columns.
By Che right and left nanks-Maroh!"
THAT movement, in our front and under
our IRE" SAYS Col. kreutzer, F" was fatal. That
officer never saw his columns together again.
They collided. they rccoiled, they fell, they
nea. Nothing could exceed the rapidity and
precision of our Gre. When our men rose TO
discharge their pieces their countenances
WORE AN UNEARTHLY ASPECT
and when they saw the enemy broken and
scattered they cliuched their hands, CRASHED
their teeth aud smiled grimly."
They came no more. The chip had not
fallen from our shoulder, nor did u iill our
flag waved over the Capitol. When the even
ing came we placed our guards few rods IN
front, lighted our fires, and ate our evening
meal along the line.
Then came our cook. noble fellow! "Boys,
I've goi 10 you rs quick rs could; iall IN for
your coffee
Tho night was dark, rainy and cold. The
onemv's wounded were uncared for, Two
days later our burial parties, without truce,
but unmolested, passed over the field and gath
cred them in.
Victory, the safety Of my father and myself
brought a reyulsion of feeling, and though stu
suffering from wounds ] went, with their as
sisiance, with the comrades of my company
Capt. Lewis said, "Boys, l want you TO go on
picket duty again tonight We want some
i. ! 81 sraf- -naltT -
Soon we were strung along among the dead
and dying on the hillside, looking toward the
enemy We had been posted perhaps an hour
when Capt Lewis, assisted by others, brought
along shovels picks and spades and distributed
them IL was the policy then 10 put recruits
right in with the old +" vets and let them thus
learn the art OF war One of these recruits a
cousin of The Captains and graduate from
Cambridge College, Eng, had lately Joined The
company. He, with Others, had been
THE "BLAcK SHEEP"
of the company until the battle had shown
that recruits rs well rs veterans might possibly
be possessed Of sucha an article rs sand" This
cousin; whom we will call Felix, was posted
lext to me. lie was green in the way Of war
A long handled Mcclellan rifle was
handed me- and fell to digging gopher
hole" with IL, anticipating that daylight might
prove its usefulness. South and West j have
sometimes looked long and in vain for a small
stone TO throw at a squirrel, and wondered
where they had all gone to. But since that
night ] no longer wonder All the stones moi
used elsewhere are packed in that hillside al
Cbapin's Farm! / began TO sweat and almost
10 swear, when ping and rebel had fired a
me.
"Oh, no." says I, al know where you arc
Johnny reb; if you'll only stay there. Bu
that's been the trouble with you all along
~ NM Had ~
j must work more quietly. BY and by
bethinlS me of Felix, and 4 walk over TO wher'
he is. He is sitting on pick that had beeI
given him.
- say, Felix, amt you going to dig hole?
"What for?"
"Why, SO they wont shoot you in the morn
ing
'Oh. they wont shoot without orders"
"Jerusalem! Didn'tthat fellow just shoot a
me without orders. ] tell you what Felix
you'll dance high. wide and lively here wheI
daylight comes, If you don't
HAVE A HOLE TO GET INTO.
al shall no; dig any hole. If the Captain
wanted me 10 dig he would say So"
What in the name Of conscience do yol
suppose be gave the pick to you for, if it WASH
TO dig with"
"If nc wanted me TO dig hole he woul,
have given me a shovel and told me to-"
Well. let me take the pick"
No, j shall not let you have the pick an,
quicker than j would my rife. i will have q
pay for h il don't return il in the morning.
And reason as would, coax as j might argu
and persuade, il was all TO no purpose and
went hack 10 my work. But IL WAS too tougl
job fora well man. and ! was wounded.
went 70 LOCKER, the other side Of me, and go
spade, and even beyond, and exchanged, for
while for a sh0r1 handled shovel
But the might was wearing away. Ever,
now and then shots were fred, and at last in
desperate state, ] walked over to Felix an,
jerllod the pick quickly out from under him
lie sprang 10 his feet but wel-directed bloN
from my shovel-blade struck fatwise agains
his head brought him 20 terms, and finally
threatening 10 report Inc TO the Captain b
seated himself again.
With the aid of this new acquisition, an
assisted by LOCKER. / soon began to secure
place Tor retreat BY aud by Felix came owe
TO my side.
Alorey, I'm all right when daylight come,
I've got a nice pine-top in front of my post, an
j shah hide behind il and
THE REBELS CAN'T SEE ME-"
BY jinEs, Felix that pine-top will be jus
what the rcb5 will shoot at the most; no.
mark my word
20. pshaw I'll risk il, - and be went back
When Locker came over again i urged hin
10 make his hole big enough for two, so Fell
might 60 IN with him If the worst came.
was ali ] could do TO get mine big enough f
one.
Daylight began to tremble down through tl
branches ol the trees in front Of u.s. and Il
rebels 70 wake us
Wake up, boys, for Lannigan's bali wi
soon begin,' called out some one down Il
line.
Ping zip ping ping! The bees were b.
ginning To hum all along the line.
j say, Johnny Reb, how do you like thi
for breakfast"
Hello Nank want some more fne-cut?"
Objects could but dimly be seen, when
notice FELIX'S bush laugh went up fro
our line We were scattered along in the ops
field, aud III Qua boys save Felix had holes, an
were in them. lic was lying behind fai
sized pine-top. which he had found and dragg,
in front OF him. As soon as they saw il d
rebels, who were scattered In the wood, open,
fire upon
FELIX AND HIS BAsTIoN.
Ue began 10 squcal and yelp as the bullets We
pr0ddIug into the ground or top about him.
"Oh--0h An! Eh My Oh my. boys, they
Mill-hit- me Oh--my-GOd-what-
Idol Oh--oh-oh! a"
And poor Folk was fairly squirming. al
twstfng and comforting and crawling i'm agoi
a. tiEe VIM. snap! crack of the deadly m
siles ratified about him
Felix" ! yelled. "when we yell, You
and run for Lockers hole. He's got IL b
enouth for you. Well qucll their fire for yo
now run! run!
IL was no use. Felix was almost dead wi
fear, and must soon have succumbed had not
that moment the clear tones of the Capita